Help with a skincare routine for dry sensitive face!

[AnonApril24]

Hi,
I’m 42, menopausal thanks to cancer treatment, and a year past chemo. My skin has been super dry all my life, and my face super sensitive. I’ve never used many products at all - I don’t wear much make up (brows, eyelids and eyelashes get done and that’s it). My “routine” is a warm wet face cloth every morning, then Aveeno blue lotion. There are a few other products I tolerate at times - Nivea blue, Eucerin cream in the metal tube. That’s about it.
My face at the moment is dry, sore, itchy, red. I get cracked nose edges that I use naseptin for.
Any advice for a very simple routine to follow that will help? I have sometimes tried putting almond oil on damp skin before the aveeno - is that a good thing? As you can tell I’m pretty clueless!

Husk and Seed

I use Rosehip oil and put it on after the moisturiser.

I have dry skin as I take an immune suppressant and recently turned 40.

Things I've added to my routine to help:

Hyaluronic Acid serum from the inkey list. I didn't think much of it at first but then noticed my skin is softer.

A more intensive moisturiser for winter. I've been using The Ordinary HA factors with photoceramides. Its really thick. I also liked Weleda Skin Food which comes in an intensive version - and its free of any nasties.

I have similar skin OP (all of a sudden since perimenopause hit argh), as well as some rosacea. I have found that using a hydrating cleanser twice daily really helps (I use the Cerave one), I also like Elizabeth Arden ceramide capsules (the hyaluronic acid hydrating ones) and CosRx snail mucin essence (can buy on Amazon) has been great (and no reactions which I was worried about).

But by far the best thing I have found (unfortunately also very pricey, have tried dupes but they’re not the same) is the Elemis marine peptide cream. If you buy nothing else seriously consider trying this. It’s like a miracle for my poor dry skin now even though I think it would have been too rich for my skin ten years ago.

Op, oil.based products are probably your friend.

I would start by getting into an.evening routine. Going to bed with skin that is not clean and moisterised is a huge.mistake.

a balm cleansestill very gentle and won't strip your skin. As your skin is sensitive, I woukd recommend using the farmacy clearly clean. However you could.also just use your almond oil - apply all over and then remove with a warm damp wash cloth.

Then a really moisturising night cream, preferably with peptides etc. I always recommend the neutrogena hydroboost range ad I find it very neutral and easy.

Ideally you would use a serum and/or a retinol but I would suggest you start with the basics - good cleanser and moisteriser- and see how your skin settles. If you do want a serum, a cheap.and cheerful hyaluronic acid serum to start is a good option, while your skin is improving its condition. You can get more fancy later!

Morning is fine with a damp.cloth and then a moisteriser you like. Ideally buy one with an spf.

If you feel up for a serum, I think the clarins double serum is a fantastic all round def and great for dry skin.

I have dry, sensitive, eczema prone skin and since hitting my 40’s it feels even more dry and sensitive! I’ve stripped my skincare right back and now use E45 hydrating serum on damp skin then the E45 face moisturiser with SPF30 in the morning. In the evening I use Clinique balm cleanser (it’s not luxurious but fragrance free and does a good job at removing all makeup) then the Aveeno oat serum and night cream. I’ve not had any reactions or patches of eczema for months (touch wood!)

Thank you! A question on spf. I’ve finally found one that works for me - LRP cicaplast spf50. So if I do damp hot cloth, serum, Aveeno moisturiser and then oil (??) do I put the spf on top of that?

I wouldn't do oil in the morning myself. And yes to over your moisteriser. Or you could try using the spf as a moisteriser , but with v dry skin that might not work.for.you.

I've had dry sensitive skin for years and what's helped recently is only washing my face at night. It's recommended by a number of skincare experts and makes sense to me. I cleanse at night and then add serum and overnight moisturiser from Aveeno. In the morning I just use a face mist to dampen my skin and then serum, moisturiser, SPF. My skin is much much calmer now and the redness is much reduced.

Always had dry, super sensitive skin & adult acne. I don't get on with aveeno, I react to it.

Moisturisers my skin loves:
Lush dream cream
Dermol cream (available from pharmacies & online) - my skin tolerates this even skin barrier is shot. Use as a cleanser too. Love it.
Vaseline for the most stubborn / sensitive rough patches - just for a few days
Rosehip oil - applied at night (but be careful of perfumed products)

Niacinamide serum - my skin drinks this up & it really improves its look
Hyaluronic acid serum - great addition to routine but I don't notice the same transformation as I do with the above

I also love the Ordinarys Natural Moisturiser with Factors.

If using a typical cleanser, choose an oil based micellar water. Avoid products containing alcohol and look into whether you have rosacea.

Supplements can help too - omega oils, etc

Thank you all! So my plan is now this….

evening - cleanse (I have a tropic cleanser left from a cancer beauty workshop so could use this or body shop camomile balm), then try e45 serum, then Aveeno or blue Nivea? Thinking of trying Aveeno dermexa?

Morning - warm damp cloth, e45 serum, then blue Aveeno, then spf

does that sound ok?

Update on this - I went to lush yesterday and got some samples: dream cream, celestial, skin drink moisturisers, ultra bland and angels on bare skin cleansers, and full of grace facial oil. I also bought Aveeno dermexa cream, and e45 serum. Now what do I do?! 😂

last night I used ultra bland cleanser, then full of grace oil then dream cream. I woke up with dry flaky T zone. Showered this morning and then used e45 serum, Aveeno dermexa cream and lrp cicabalm spf.

Can anyone offer me a suggestion using above products of a night and a morning routine to stick to for a week or so to see if it delivers?

Personally I wouldn't be using Lush products if your skin is dry and sensitive. Sorry.

The issues aren't going to go away overnight though. the Aveeno is a body cream rather than a face cream isn't it? As a rule, I'd recommend using skincare formulated for the face, not the body. the E45 serum is probably a good choice to start with and you could use it morning and night. I would top it with Nivea - but again, rather get one formulated for face than the generic blue tin (much as we all love it).

You might also want to try a very gentle exfoliator. this can be tricky if you have sensitive skin. Simple does a very gentle old fashioned one if you don't want to leap straight to acid ones. That might help to get your skin better prepared for your skincare products and moisterisers.

CosRX Snail Mucin is absolutely magic for dry sensitive skin. I think a PP mentioned it above.

I also swear by Laneige Cica Sleeping Mask and Illyoon Ceramide ATO Cream.

All inexpensive too.

Re: facial oil - apply this as the last step. Oils are occlusive, which means they create a barrier on your skin, so when you apply your moisturiser, allow it to sink in before applying a few drops of oil and massaging well. Oils don't exactly moisturise themselves, they seal in your moisturiser and help it work better.

My dry skin has defnitely become worse thanks to cancer treatments and I find this product the only thing that cures the sore, red flaky skin. GP prescribed Daktacort which was also very good but I wasn't keen on using a steroid cream long term.

I don't think my image has worked - its the Moogoo Eczema cream - wonderful stuff.

I tried the laneige sleeping mask in a Space NK the other day... it felt fabulous. But I thought at £35 it wasn't cheap. But it's probably the next thing I'll buy if I ever have a bit of cash to splash! and it's certainly cheaper than the other products I fell in love with - a £250 vitamin C serum or a £64 highlighter!

Garnier body super food. The cocoa and ceramides one. It's absolutely amazing for super dry skin. My face and body feel so much nicer if I use it

Try the dream cream at night only. I can't speak for any of the other products and I'm usually wary about any lush products but Dream Cream is lavender & oat and as I said my very reactive skin loves it.

Don't try too many things at once or you'll overload your skin. One new product evert 2 or 3 days is fine and I'd give your skin a break of new stuff after a trying a couple of things. Certainly if you react to something, leave enough time for for your skin to fully settle before trying something else.

Can't go wrong with E45 or blue tin Nivea.

@Sunat45degrees it's absolutely lovely - I use it every night. Interestingly I'm in Australia and can buy it for about $45 in store or cheaper online. Must be a customs thing.

The Weleda one always has good reviews. Sadly for me it is the one brand I am allergic to! SOmething in the base ingredients. Have tried a number of things. Basically your poor old skin has really gone through it so keep to gentle products and don't put too many products on your face.

Sorry that was for @AnonApril24 re the Weleda info.